Doctor of Nursing Practice Admission Requirements

Post-Baccalaureate

Students requesting entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) at the post-baccalaureate level must meet all the requirements for graduate admission.

Post Masters

Students requesting entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) at the post-masters’ level must be accepted into the graduate program and provide a transcript of completion of a master's in nursing program from an accredited institution.

Licensure

Students must produce evidence of nursing licensure in the appropriate jurisdiction prior to enrolling in clinical courses.

Special Admission Requirements

Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted by the announced deadline. Late applications will be placed on a waiting list and will not be reviewed until all timely applicants have been processed. No action will be taken until all admission documents have been received. Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program is limited and competitive.

All required credentials must be on file with the Department of Nursing before applicants can be admitted to the program.

Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States must have their credentials evaluated through the GSU Office of Admission to determine eligibility for admission. Applicants must assume all responsibility for fees associated with testing. All required credentials must be on file in the Office of Admission, as well as sent through NursingCAS, before an applicant can be admitted to the program.

Applicants are responsible for all doctoral level tuition and fees.

Applicants must assume all responsibility for fees associated with testing.

Applicants are expected to meet the following admission requirements:

Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing. International students must graduate from a nursing program that has undergone comparable review per AACN Baccalaureate Essentials criteria and must score a minimum of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.

A minimum nursing cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5, on a four-point scale, or equivalent "B" average. Note: Applicants not meeting this criterion may be considered for conditional admission status.

Evidence of current registered nurse licensure in the State of Illinois (for students planning to complete the program in Illinois) or from an appropriate jurisdiction (for out-of-state students intending to complete practice requirements outside the state of Illinois).

Evidence of successful completion with a grade of B or better of an upper division statistics course. Alternately, one may be taken concurrently with the first semester of graduate coursework.

A personal interview with a graduate admissions committee.

Basic computer competency as follows: Students should be able to use email with attachments, access online course materials and navigate WebCT courses, demonstrate intermediate competency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, be able to effectively use clinical simulation modules, have beginning competency with a statistical package (preferably SPSS) and be able to navigate the Web including access to online library materials, Nursing Blog and similar sites. Students who are unfamiliar with web-supported instruction are encouraged to take ONTL 502 Introduction to Online Learning prior to or during the first term of enrollment.

Grades in all previous master’s course work of “B” or better

Submit an application packet through NursingCAS. See link, below, for Instructions:

Once accepted into the program, information regarding health and other program specific requirements will be sent to the student. These requirements must be met within the first semester of enrollment.

Admission to CandidacyAfter admission as a degree-seeking student, a student must apply for candidacy, at which time all candidacy requirements must be fulfilled. Application for candidacy should be made with the approval of one’s academic advisor at the completion of all core courses; Admission to candidacy is required in order to enroll in the roll specific DNP courses. To qualify for candidacy, a student must: